Monthly Archives: July 2013

ink love

inklove

Let’s talk tattoos, shall we? I’ve wanted one (or two) for quite a while…I find the idea to be romantic, and yet bewildering at the same time. A few of my closest friends have intricate designs, and I admire the artistry and personal stories behind each of them. My perfectionism and indecision have kept me from pulling the trigger, but now that I have children I find myself wanting to have a permanent representation of them on my body (besides the stretch marks, ha). After all, they came into existence within me, and will always be a part of me. I am 99% decided on roman numerals of their birthdate, or their first initials on each of my wrists. I also dream of having a beautiful typographic tattoo on my arm (like above), but am not sure I would ever be that bold. Once I get my first one I will know…it could be my only, or as many people say, it could be the stepping stone to many more! If you have a tattoo, I’d love to hear how you decided on it and what the experience was like? Do you have any regrets? Do you want more? I would love to hear your story…thanks for sharing!

image source one // two // three

check out my ink love pinterest board for my inspirations!

currently

marie-lashes

curiousmarie

 

reading: finally reading “mom, inc.”…a smart guide to running a business from home as a mother.

listening to: the new Jay Z album…my favorite tracks are Holy Grail + Tom Ford (on repeat in my brain…help).

planning: a beach trip with the kids-they will be feeling sand in their toes for the first time very soon!

eating: healthier…thanks to an awesome online support group of friends.

loving: this twelve month age of henry + marie…and these photos-those lashes!

 

 what are you up to?

thanks to Danielle for the post inspiration!

paris with children

berthillon-paris

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about Paris lately (nothing new)…but traveling there with children especially. After much research and debate, we have decided to wait until Henry + Marie are older (4+ ?) to introduce them to it. As someone who is very familiar with the city (I know it better than Philly or NYC), I will be more focused on their experience. I want them to have developed a basic understanding of the globe and travel in general, and hopefully their francophilia will have started to develop (they are MY children after all). I know this may be wishful thinking, but their book of choice currently happens to be “Everybody Bonjours“…just saying. When we do finally arrive with “les jumeaux”, we will surely be lingering around Berthillon if we find ourselves there in warmer temps! Best. Ice cream. Ever.

While there are many kid-friendly places, Paris is intimidating to travelers with young children. There are countless pros and cons to be weighed when contemplating such a challenging adventure, and obviously what works for some may not for others. For instance, with twins, we live and die by our schedule. Add jet lag and an unfamiliar environment and it could spell disaster for us. On the other hand, as my friend Anne recently mentioned, the constraints of Paris could possibly work in our favor. My friends with one child do not seem as concerned with keeping a tight schedule (which I often envy), and they (and their children) might have a much easier time adapting when traveling. My personal opinion is that traveling there with a toddler (ages 0-3) is very ambitious. However, in the event you are considering traveling to Paris with children, I wanted to share what I’ve read, as it has played a major role in our decision making process. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject, and any tips or advice you may have. Bon weekend à tous!

 

paris travelogue…hither + thither

kid friendly paris…haven in paris

city terrible for ‘les enfants’ article

paris with kids…classic play

what to do (and not) in paris with children

“paris with children” book + interview

travel guide: paris for kids via ny times

first birthday invitations

twins-first-birthday-invite

gold-foil-invitations

 

Oh how I love these…let me count the ways. They represent my beautiful children, they involve the French flag, gold foil is prominent in the design, the font is dreamy, and they were printed on deliciously thick paper. The accomplished team of Curious + Co. Creative has wowed again, taking my basic idea and amping it up to a level of awesomeness. Combined with the beautiful envelope calligraphy of Lindsey Buck (pics to follow), they created quite a first impression and set an elegant tone for the event. We will treasure them always, as they represent such a major milestone for us, and the babies.

 images courtesy of curious + co. creative

philly creatives…a new series!

philly-creatives

After almost four years in Philadelphia, I continue to be inspired by the local talent that thrives here. It’s a creative community like I’ve never been a part of before-supportive, enriching, motivating. I frequently post about my local love, but it’s time to take it to another level and really showcase the best. My goal is to get more personal with the artists and business owners you already know, and introduce a few you might not. I’m continually meeting incredibly inspiring people here-I’ve been fortunate to get to know many of them personally, and am excited to share their passions. Beginning in September, I will be profiling philly creatives! Regardless of where you are in the world, you will be inspired.

 beautiful calligraphy on sign by lindsey buck for the philly creatives party